Electronic sourcing system and method

ABSTRACT

An electronic sourcing system includes a computer that maintains a catalog database of data including product information (such as product identification and descriptive information) relating to catalog items available from vendor product catalogs, and a means for building (generating) a requisition including at least one requisitioned item. Information at least partially identifying an item desired to be requisitioned is entered by a user, and utilized by a means for searching the database for catalog items matching that information and for selecting at least one catalog item located as a result of the search. Text describing the catalog items, and images of the items, may be viewed. Data identifying selected catalog items are communicated to the requisition building means, which generates a requisition including entries for items corresponding to the selected catalog items. The system checks the availability in one or more inventory locations of the corresponding desired catalog items, and generates one or more purchase orders for desired items from inventory locations stocking the items.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to systems and methods for interfacing productinformation, such as is typically found in vendor catalogs that areprovided to customers, and requisition/purchasing systems and methodsthat may use the results of searches of product information.

There are a number of known requisition/purchasing systems that manageand process requisitions and purchase orders. One such system is theFisher Scientific Requisition and Inventory Management System ("FisherRIMS"), described U.S. Pat. No. 5,712,989, filed Apr. 2, 1993 andassigned to Fisher Scientific Company of Pittsburgh, Pa., the disclosureof which is incorporated herein by reference. As its title suggests,Fisher RIMS can also manage inventory. In the Fisher RIMS system,requisition records are created from a real-time interaction between ahost computer (generally a mainframe) and a local computer (generally ata customer site), with each computer using data from its own respectivedatabase of inventory in conjunction with information entered by acustomer service representative operating the local computer. Byaccessing its respective database, each computer can build and transmitto the other computer communications blocks of data relating to aparticular requisition of an item in inventory (or to the management ofthe inventory itself). The other computer can then use the received datato continue processing of the requisition. Thus, requisition records arecreated from a real-time interaction between the host and localcomputers, with each computer using data from its respective database inconjunction with information entered by a customer servicerepresentative operating the local computer.

Other requisition/purchasing systems can be grouped broadly into fourclasses. First, requisition management systems licensed to corporationspurchasing for their own use include ORION software (from MedicalManagement Systems), ENTERPRISE software (from ESI), and NOVA software(from Johnson & Johnson). Second, there exist systems provided bydistributors for transmitting orders to them in proprietary formats.Such systems include QUICKLINK (from Abbott), ASAP system (from Baxter)and LIGHTNING system (from Fisher Scientific). Third, software packageslicensed by software developers to customers and/or suppliers enable thetransmission of customer purchase orders as EDI purchase orders (in ANSIX.12 format). Examples of such systems include ON-CALL EDI (from TSIInternational), EDI Express software (from General Electric InformationServices) and GETRAN software (from Sterling Software). Fourth,comprehensive business management packages such as REAL WORLD software(from Real World Corporation of Concord, NH) and ASK software (from TheASK Group) contain a purchasing module to create replenishment orderswhen inventoried items fall below restocking points. The same purchasingmodule can also be used to place spot orders for products keyed in bythe customer's purchasing personnel.

None of these known requisition/purchasing systems (including FisherRIMS), however, provides a capability for a user readily to search forand locate information about the products that may be requisitioned andordered in connection with the requisition/purchasing system. They alsodo not provide the capability for a user to search a database containingtwo or more vendor catalogs, and then to transfer information about theitems selected as a result of such searches into arequisition/purchasing system such as Fisher RIMS for building arequisition for the catalog items.

Computer systems that are capable of searching databases containing aproduct catalog of a particular vendor, for example on CD-ROM, are alsoknown. Such systems can search for user requested information aboutproducts and create orders which the user can save, print or, in somecases, facsimile directly to a vendor. The known computer systems forsearching vendor catalogs are limited in that only one such vendorcatalog is accessible to a user at any given time. They are also limitedin that they can only create an order within the particular vendorcatalog database. They cannot source items to be requisitioned from adatabase containing multiple catalogs or interact with arequisition/purchasing system (such as Fisher RIMS) to create a purchaseorder or orders including the items located from that sourcingoperation.

Thus, it would be desirable to provide an electronic sourcing systemthat provides a means for transferring information between arequisition/purchasing system that may use the results of a search ofproduct information and a means for searching large volumes of productinformation such as would be included in a vendor product catalog orcatalogs.

It would also be desirable to provide such an electronic sourcing systemthat is capable of searching a database containing at least two vendorproduct catalogs for product information.

It would further be desirable to provide such an electronic sourcingsystem that is capable of searching a database of catalog items containin at least two vendor product catalogs, selecting particular itemslocated, and transferring information about the items selected (forexample, a catalog number and a vendor identifier, such as vendor nameand/or vendor number) to a requisition/purchasing system for inclusionin a requisition generated by the system.

It would further be desirable to provide an electronic sourcing systemthat is capable of creating an order list including items located as theresult of a catalog database search and transferring that order list ofdesired catalog items to a requisition/purchasing system for inclusionof the catalog items as entries in a requisition generated by thesystem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of this invention to providean electronic sourcing method and system that provides a user with thecapability of searching a database containing data (includingproduct/vendor identification, and other product information) relatingto items available from at least two vendor product catalogs, and thecapability of transferring the product information for desired catalogitems obtained as a result of the search to a requisition/purchasingsystem for use in generating a requisition including entries for thedesired catalog items.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an electronic sourcingsystem that provides a means for bi-directionally transferringinformation between a requisition/purchasing system that may use theresults of a search of such product information, and a means forsearching large volumes of product information such as would be includedin a vendor product catalog.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an electronicsourcing system capable of creating an order list including desiredcatalog items located as the result of such a database search, andtransferring that order list to a requisition/purchasing system forgenerating a requisition including entries for the desired catalogitems.

In accordance with the invention, an electronic sourcing system andmethod used by the system are provided. The system includes a computerthat maintains a catalog database of data including product information(such as product identification information, and descriptiveinformation) relating to catalog items available from vendor productcatalogs, and a means for building (generating) a requisition includingat least one requisitioned item. Information at least partiallyidentifying an item desired to be requisitioned is entered by a user,and utilized by a means for searching the database for catalog itemsmatching that information and for selecting at least one catalog itemlocated as a result of the search. Text describing the catalog items,and images of the items, may be viewed. Data identifying selectedcatalog items are communicated to the requisition building means, whichgenerates a requisition including entries for items corresponding to theselected catalog items. Additionally, the invention includes a means forchecking the availability in one or more inventory locations of thecorresponding desired catalog items, and for generating one or morepurchase orders for desired items from inventory locations stocking theitems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will beapparent from consideration of the following detailed description, takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencecharacters refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1A is a block diagram showing one exemplary embodiment of theoverall system of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a block diagram showing another exemplary embodiment of theoverall system of the present invention;

FIG. 1C is a block diagram showing a portion of the embodiment of FIG.1A in greater detail;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the flow of control and interactionbetween the various programs and data screens of the programs used forrequisition management and vendor catalog searching of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a portion of a system (Fisher RIMS)for requisition management, including the electronic sourcing system ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1A and 1B show preferred embodiments of the electronic sourcingsystem 5 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1A, a local computer20, which is preferably located at or near a Customer site and the siteof Just-In-Time ("JIT") Inventory, is preferably used by an on-siteCustomer Service Representative ("CSR") dedicated to a Customer toassist that Customer in requisitioning items needed.

Local computer 20 includes conventional color monitor 22 andalphanumerical keyboard 24 including twelve function keys F1, F2, . . .F12. Local computer 20 is also coupled to printer 26.

Local computer 20 is preferably a conventional microcomputer (such as a386-, 486- or Pentium-class personal computer) capable of operating therequired programs and of transmitting and receiving the requiredcommunications, running the OS/2 operating system 32 and also runningthe CICS OS/2 application 34, both of which are available from IBM.

Electronic sourcing system 5 also includes a requisition/purchasingsystem 40, preferably but not necessarily the Fisher RIMS system, and asearch program 50 that is capable of searching through large volumes ofinformation quickly and accurately. Preferably but not necessarily, theTechnical Viewer 2 search program ("TV/2"), available from IBM, is usedas search program 50. As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1A, Fisher RIMS40 and TV/2 search program 50 are run by local computer 20.

Fisher RIMS system 40 is comprised of numerous program modules,including several programs 44, which operate within CICS environment 34of OS/2 operating system 32. Programs 44 include, among others,Requisition Management ("REQI") program 44A, Inventory Sourcing programor programs 44B, Requisition Maintenance program 44C, Customer Variableprogram 44D, and Order Header program 44E, each of which will later bedescribed in greater detail. REQI program 44A is most often the RIMSprogram 44 that interfaces with TV/2 search program 50.

Fisher RIMS system 40 also includes several Fisher RIMS databases 42.These databases 42 preferably include requisition databases 42A,inventory databases 42B, and customer-specific databases 42C, eachmaintained within OS/2 operating system 32.

Local computer 20 also preferably runs Shell program 52, which operatesunder search program 50 and is used to customize search program 50 togenerate Order Lists 48 (shown in FIG. 1C) with particular fields offormatted data about the items selected using search program 50. Localcomputer 20 is preferably capable of running both a RIMS program 44 andShell program 52 at the same time (i.e., in a multi-taskingenvironment), but the user of local computer 20 usually sees only RIMSprogram 44 or Shell program 52 at one time in the foreground on monitor22.

Local computer 20 is also provided with a catalog database 36 comprisedpreferably of at least two vendor product catalogs. The catalogs, andhence catalog database 36, preferably include such information as partnumber, price, catalog number, vendor name or I.D., and vendor catalognumber, as well as textual information and images of or relating to thecatalog products. The nature of the business that the Customer usingelectronic sourcing system 5 conducts will determine which productcatalogs are made a part of catalog database 36.

A feature of the present invention is the ability to search multiplecatalogs from different suppliers. For example, catalog database 36 cancontain the catalog or catalogs published by a vendor Distributor,having Distributor's catalog numbers for all listed products and vendormanufacturer's part numbers for many of the listed products. Catalogdatabase 36 can further contain catalogs published by some of the vendormanufacturers, listing the manufacturers' part numbers for certainproducts correspondingly listed in the Distributor's catalogs and forcertain products not listed in the Distributor's catalogs. Catalogdatabase 36 can further contain catalogs published by outside suppliers,whether other manufacturers or other distributors, listing such vendor'sproducts different from those in the Distributor's catalogs.

Where the Fisher RIMS system is in use with electronic sourcing system5, a host computer 10 located at a Distributor site is also provided, asshown in FIG. 1A. Host computer 10 controls all inventory, pricing andrequisitioning operations of the Distributor's regularly stocked itemsusing host pricing and inventory databases 11. Host pricing andinventory databases 11 may include such information as: descriptions ofthe items and the quantities thereof available at a particularDistributor warehouse and at other Distributor warehouses; item recordsfor each Product regularly sold by the Distributor; discount records byCustomer; and cross-references from the Distributor's catalog number toits corresponding vendor's part (catalog) number and to similarcorresponding catalog numbers of other vendors (suppliers ordistributors) for the same Product.

Host computer 10 and local computer 20 are preferably linkedpoint-to-point or in a network employing the formats and protocols ofIBM's System Network Architecture ("SNA"). Host computer 10 can besubstantially any mainframe or minicomputer capable of running thedesired programs and conducting the required communications. Preferably,host computer 10 is a mainframe computer, such as an IBM Model 3090,running the MVS operating system, the MVS-CICS application and a VirtualTelecommunication Access Method communications network.

As shown in FIGS. 1C and 2, interface 60 is also a part of electronicsourcing interface system 5. Interface 60 communicates shared databetween requisition/purchasing system 40 and search program 50.Interface 60 is preferably based upon the dynamic data exchange ("DDE")protocol provided by OS/2 operating system 32. As shown in FIG. 2,interface 60 preferably includes three linking programs to interfacerequisition/purchasing system 40 and search program 50: ESRC program 70,ESCP program 80 and DDE LINK 90.

A typical data exchange may begin with requisition/purchasing system 40(which, in the illustrated embodiment, is the Fisher RIMS system)requesting information from catalog database 36 via search program 50.Once a search by search program 50 has been completed, the selectedinformation will be communicated to requisition/purchasing system 40 viainterface 60.

Alternatively, if the search of catalog database 36 is initiated fromsearch program 50, the information selected from the search is returnedto requisition/procurement system 40 via interface 60.

The start up of electronic sourcing system 5 (FIG. 1A) may beuser-initiated or automatically started when the operating system,preferably OS/2 system 32, is brought up on local computer 20. Anapplication-name string 61 must be identified to label interface 60. Asshown in FIG. 1C, electronic sourcing system 5 by convention will use"TV2V123," "TV2V124," "TV2V125," etc. as application names 61 supportingthe user's requesting service.

Preferably, application names 61 correspond to virtual terminal sessionsthat exist in the CICS system 34 of requisition/purchasing system 40.There will be a one-to-one correspondence between applications started(such as Shell 52) and CICS virtual terminals in use at a location ofrequisition/procurement system 40 (such as REQI program 44A). Localcomputer 20 will query OS/2 operating system 32 to determine the nextapplication-name string 61 to create at start-up. The application-namestrings 61 will be created in sequence with V123 being created first,V124 created second, etc. Each application will create only oneapplication name-string 61 to support its user in the CICS environment34.

If the Fisher RIMS system has been selected as requisition/purchasingsystem 40, and the TV/2 search program has been selected as searchprogram 50, CICS OS/2 applications 34 must share a workstation with aTV/2 search program 50.

The data passed by interface 60 preferably comprise all or a subset ofthe following twelve fields: vendor name, vendor number, vendor part(catalog) number, product description, bid price, list price, keyword,page number, quantity, unit, catalog text, and catalog images. Becauseof the amount of data for catalog images present in database 36 andviewed on monitor 22, these data are usually not passed via interface60. Any of the above-listed fields may be filled byrequisition/purchasing system 40 prior to requesting a search of catalogdatabase 36 by search program 50. However, requisition/purchasing system40 is not required to pass any data to search program 50. If a field isnot passed, that field will be filled with spaces. The fields that arefilled with data will assist search program 50 in executing its firstsearch against a specific catalog contained in catalog database 36.

A search priority exists when more than one field is provided byrequisition/purchasing system 40. The priority is as follows: (1) part(catalog) number; (2) keyword; and (3) page number. The search willstart with priority (1) and proceed through priority (3) in sequenceuntil a search produces products matching the search criteria. At thattime, the search will return the matching product information torequisition/purchasing system 40 and stop at the highest priorityresulting in a match.

The operation of electronic sourcing system 5 of the present inventionwill now be more particularly described in the context of FIGS. 1A, 1C,2 and 3. In FIGS. 2 and 3, the rectangles represent data screens as wellas programs associated with those data screens. The rounded rectanglesrepresent programs not associated with data screens such that, whilethese programs are running, the prior data screen may remain visiblewithout, necessarily, being operational for the input of data. Theprograms associated with the data screens enable the user of localcomputer 20 to display and modify the contents of various tablesassociated with particular data screens. The following descriptionillustrates the use of the Fisher RIMS system as requisition/purchasingsystem 40, and the TV/2 search program as search program 50. However, itwill be understood that the present invention is not limited to suchsystem or program.

Preferably, a user will start the electronic sourcing system 5 fromFisher RIMS system 40. Requisitioning on Fisher RIMS system 40 incontext of the electronic sourcing system 5 of the present invention isillustrated in pertinent part in FIG. 3 (and is fully described in U.S.Pat. No. 5,712,989. As data (e.g., Account Number, Requisition Numberand Stock Numbers) associated with a single requisition are enteredthrough the various data screens on local computer 20, that computercreates a set of Requisition Tables (including a Requisition Item Table46, shown in FIG. 1C) for that particular requisition. The RequisitionTables are stored in Requisition databases 42A (shown in FIG. 1A), andcan be accessed by local computer 20 using the Requisition Number tofind the desired table.

The first step in creating a requisition in Fisher RIMS system 40involves entry by the user of information in the Order Header program44D (shown in FIG. 1A), which has an associated Order Header data screen100 (FIG. 3). A sample of an actual Order Header data screen 100 is setforth in Appendix I. The user enters an Account Number, which generallycauses the correct name and address associated with that Account Numberto be entered into the appropriate fields of Order Header data screen100. The user must also enter a Requisition Number in the appropriatefield of the Order Header screen 100. Various additional information mayalso be entered.

At the bottom of Order Header data screen 100 are several fields thatdescribe the function of various function keys. Function keys F6, F9,and F10 all cause the system to jump to a new RIMS program 44 or datascreen in Fisher RIMS system 40. For example, pressing the F9 key causesthe system to jump to RIMS Customer Variable program 44E (FIG. 1A) andits associated Customer Variable Header data screen 104 (FIG. 3).Customer Variable Header program 44E with its associated CustomerVariable Header data screen 104 allows the user to enter and editinformation that the particular customer desires to be associated withthe requisition due to requirements of the customer's internalaccounting system or other systems. Pressing the F10 key will cause thesystem to enter the Inventory Sourcing program or programs 44B.

Pressing the F6 function key from the Order Header data screen causesFisher RIMS system 40 to jump to REQI program 44A (FIG. 1A). The screenassociated with REQI program 44A is Requisition Management data screen110 (FIG. 3) illustrated in Appendix II. Within REQI program 44A and itsassociated Requisition Management data screen 110, Requisition ItemTable 46 (shown in FIG. 1C) is a graphical representation of a databasetable in which certain fields are completed on a list of items that areto be listed, sourced and ordered. Representative Requisition Managementdata screens 110 showing a Requisition on Requisition Item Table 46 areset forth in Appendices II, VIII and IX. It should be appreciated thatdata about each item is stored in Requisition Item Table 46, some ofwhich is displayed on the screens shown in Appendices II, VIII and IX.The data stored can additionally include customer variable data. Thatis, the fields on Requisition Item Table 46 can be expanded to includespecific item details used by a particular customer, especially whenreports from requisition databases are transferred to the customer'shost computer (not shown). The field structure for these data ismaintained in customer-specific databases 42C.

The entire process of listing, sourcing and ordering products usingFisher RIMS system 40 can be completed without any reference to a searchprogram 50. As described herein, however, limited fields on specificitems can be transmitted from Requisition Item Table 46 to searchprogram 50, and more completed fields of the same or different items canbe received from the search program 50 into a Requisition Item Table 46.

At the bottom of Requisition Management data screen 110 (FIG. 3), andAppendices II, VIII and IX) are several fields which describe thefunction of various function keys (F1, F2, etc.). The user uses REQIprogram 44A and its associated Requisition Management data screen 110 toenter the catalog or part numbers and quantities of the various itemsbeing requisitioned.

The Account Number and Requisition Number are automatically passed toREQI program 44A and its associated Requisition Management data screen110, and displayed at the top of the Requisition Management data screen110 in the relevant fields. For example, in the exemplary RequisitionManagement data screen 110 shown in Appendix II, the number 218848 hasbeen entered in the Account Number field, and the notation "TEST NEWONE" has been entered in the Requisition Number field.

The user can next enter desired items and quantities for therequisition. Each desired item may be identified by entering itsdistributor catalog or part number, if known, in the field below theSTOCK NBR label on the appropriate line in Requisition Item Table 46shown on Requisition management data screen 110. In the sampleRequisition Management data screen 110 shown in Appendix II, the partnumber 13246818F has been entered in the STOCK NBR field of Line 001.Once the user has entered such information at least partially describinga desired item on Requisition Management data screen 110, he or she maywish to initiate a search of catalog database 36 to find all the partnumbers contained in catalog database 36 that match the part numberentered or other information on Requisition Management screen 110. Ifso, the user enters the letter "S" (for "Select") on the line number ofthe item that he or she wishes to search in catalog database 36. Theletter "S" has been entered to the left of line 001 on the sampleRequisition Management data screen 110 shown in Appendix II. Any numberof items, or no items, listed on Requisition Management data screen 110may be marked with "S."

A user may not always have information relating to the catalog or partnumber for the particular items that are to be requisitioned usingFisher RIMS system 40. Or, the user may have relevant information aboutan item from a particular vendor but may wish to locate informationabout the same or a similar product available from other vendors. Or,the user may simply know the name of the item that he or she wishes torequisition. In any of these cases, the user alternatively oradditionally could enter text at least partially describing the productto be requisitioned in the "DESC" field of Requisition Management datascreen 110 (e.g., Appendix II). Then, the user would initiate theelectronic sourcing system 5 of the present invention to search thevendor product catalogs contained in catalog database 36. Alternatively,the user could initiate search program 50 of electronic sourcing system5 without having first entered information in RIMS system 40 about theproduct to be requisitioned.

Once the user has built or partially built Requisition Item Table 46 byfilling the line numbers (entries) on Requisition Management data screen110 and selecting those lines to be searched, he or she is now ready toinitiate electronic sourcing system 5. Pressing the F11 function key,which is labelled "Catalog," from Requisition Management screen 110accesses electronic sourcing system 5.

Referring now to FIG. 2, after the user presses the F11 key onRequisition Management data screen 110 of Fisher RIMS system 40, FisherRIMS system 40 will pass program control via XCTL 74 to ESRC program 70.XCTL 74 is a protocol within CICS application 34 that directs theexecution of a program, as would readily be understood by one ofordinary skill in the art. As control is passed from REQI program 44A toESRC program 70, ESRC-Comm-AREA data structure 76 is passed.ESRC-Comm-AREA is a layout of storage area in local computer 20 createdby REQI program 44A to pass data to ESRC program 70, as would readily beunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

ESRC program 70 will then LINK 82 to ESCP program 80 with ESCP-Comm-AREA84. LINK 82 is a protocol within CICS application 32 that directs theexecution of a program, as would readily be understood by one ofordinary skill in the art. Data at least partially describing one itemdesired to be requisitioned is passed to ESCP program 80 via LINK 82.Thus, if there are five items to be passed to ESCP program 80, therewill be five LINKS 82 made. If no items are to be passed to ESCP program80, only one LINK 82 is made to ESCP program 80. ESCP program 80 canreturn up to twenty items per LINK 82; in other words, for each itemdesired to be requisitioned up to twenty desired catalog items containedin catalog database 36 may be sent to REQI program 44A and itsassociated Requisition Management data screen 110 of Fisher RIMS system40. If a user chooses to terminate the sourcing process, ESRC program 70would return to REQI program 44A and its associated RequisitionManagement data screen 110 without processing any of the records.

ESCP program 80 links with Shell 52 and TV/2 search program 50 via DDELINK 90. Shell 52 and TV/2 search program 50 search in catalog database36 for the item or items desired to be requisitioned that has or havebeen passed from ESRC program 70 to ESCP program 80. Catalog database 36contains the following fields: vendor name, vendor number, vendor part(catalog) number, product description, list price, page number,quantity, unit, catalog text, and catalog images. Shell 52 and TV/2search program 50 may, if desired, search the keyword field or any otherfield shown in Appendix VII. However, not all fields may appear on themonitor 22 of local computer 20, although they are stored in memory.

After the user has pressed the F11 key from Requisition Management datascreen 110 and control has been passed from REQI program 44A to Shell 52and TV/2 search program 50, monitor 22 of local computer 20 will show afooter bar representative of Shell 52 at all times that the user is inthe TV/2 search program 50. The footer bar, which also includesappropriate icons, is used to make choices within Shell 52. A sample ofthe footer bar (without the icons) representing Shell 52 is shown at thebase of Appendices III-VII. In the screens of Appendices III-VI, thisfooter bar is active to select functions. In the screen of Appendix VII,this footer bar is in the background and another footer bar is used toselect functions.

If the user has marked an item on Requisition Management data screen 110with the designation "S," the entered data at least partially describingthat item will be sent to Shell 52 and TV/2 search program 50A in themanner described above. TV/2 search program 50 will search catalogdatabase 36 for all items that match the search field sent over fromREQI program 44A and Requisition Management data screen 110. When asearch is performed in Shell 52 and search program 50, a Hit List 47 isproduced, as indicated in FIG. 1C. The user would see on monitor 22 oflocal computer 20 a Hit List 47 screen representing limited data aboutall matching catalog items that were located in catalog database 36 as aresult of the search. A sample Hit List 47 produced from a searchinitiated when the entry "OVENS" is received as the description orkeyword by search program 50 from Requisition Item Table 46 is shown inAppendix III. Similar Hit Lists 47 are produced when various searchesare performed from the Search Input screen shown in Appendix VII. When aHit List 47 is depicted on monitor 22, the underlying catalog text andpictures (in either partial or complete form) are typically collected ina memory location for rapid viewing, printing or other use.

When multiple catalogs are present in catalog database 36, searchprogram 50 contains a function associated with the catalog symbol of thefooter bar and screen window (not shown) for selecting catalogs to besearched. For example, the following choices might be available:

1. Fisher General Catalog 93-94;

2. Fairmont Supplies Catalog;

3. NIST Standards Catalog; and

4. Promega Biological Research Products Catalog.

Fairmont and NIST catalogs list products not in the Fisher GeneralCatalog, but many of the products listed in the Promega catalog are alsolisted in the Fisher General Catalog (identified by corresponding Fishercatalog numbers). If searching for a molecular biology product, the userwould select the Fisher and Promega catalogs. TV/2 search program 50would then concatenate those two catalogs to perform a keyword, catalognumber or other subject search and generate a Hit List of pages (panels)from both catalogs where the searched-for items were found. Similarly,the user might select the Fisher and NIST catalogs when searching forquality control standards or might select the Fisher and Fairmontcatalogs when searching for supplies.

If the search is initiated from requisition/purchasing program 40, forexample from the Requisition Management data screen 110 of the FisherRIMS system, then the catalogs searched can be determined by theinformation provided. If, for example, Promega is indicated as thedesired requisition item vendor, interface 60 would direct TV/2 searchprogram 50 to search the Fisher and Promega catalogs. If Fairmont isindicated as vendor, the interface would direct TV/2 to search theFairmont and Fisher catalogs. If no catalog delimiting information isentered for the item desired to be requisitioned, interface 60 would beset up to search only the Fisher catalog or, alternatively, to searchall catalogs in catalog database 36.

Once Hit List 47 has been created by TV/2 search program 50, the usercan view it and select particular ones of the located catalog items forOrder List 48 that is being created in Shell 52, as shown in FIG. 1C.For example, a search for "Eco RI," a restriction enzyme, may haveuncovered five entries in the Promega catalog (identified by Promegacatalog numbers R6011, R6012, R6013, R6015 and R401) and five entries inthe Fisher catalog (identified by Fisher catalog numbers PRR6011,PRR6012, PRR6013, PRR6015 and PRR4014). If the user selected PRR6012from the Fisher catalog, Fisher catalog number PRR6012 would be added asan entry to the Items Selected screen, with VN00000001 (identifying thevendor as distributor Fisher) accompanying it in the Order List 48. Ifthe user instead selected the item identified by catalog number R6012from the Promega catalog, then Promega catalog number R6012 would beadded as an entry to the Items Selected screen, with VN00005860(identifying the vendor as Promega) accompanying it in the Order List.In either case, the information transmitted to REQI program 44A ofFisher RIMS system 40 would also include description, list price andother information taken from the catalog database from which theselection was made. When the resultant requisition is sourced, however(as described below), Distributor's mainframe host computer 10 wouldrecognize the entry for the item from vendor Promega's catalog (R6012,00005860) as corresponding to that same item available from Fisher'scatalog (PRR6012, 00000001). The system thus would transmit back theCustomer's contract price and availability for corresponding itemPRR6012 as a type 03 (regular Distributor) product available from one ofdistributor's inventory locations. A purchase order then would begenerated for this corresponding Distributor item as further describedbelow.

By contrast, an item selected from the Fairmont catalog would betransferred to Fisher RIMS system 40 with the vendor number forFairmont, and would be recognized during inventory sourcing as either atype 07 product (that Distributor orders from Fairmont) or as a type 05item (that Customer orders from Fairmont as an Administrative Purchase).In either of these two cases, a purchase order would be generated for anitem, corresponding to a desired catalog item, that is identified by thesame Fairmont catalog number that was requisitioned.

After the desired item has been selected from the Hit List 47 by doubleclicking on that item TV/2 search program 50 can be used to bring up forviewing on monitor 22, or printing on printer 26, images and text fromthe catalog page on which the item selected is located. For example, asshown in Appendix III, page 1106 of the Fisher catalog has beenselected. If the user double clicks on highlighted page 1106, the textshown in Appendix IV (and related images, not shown) would appear onmonitor 22. On the sample screen shown in Appendix IV, the item thatappears on page 1106 of the Fisher catalog relates to Fisher Isotemp 800Series Programmable Ovens. Conventional scroll bars appearing on thescreen (not shown in Appendix IV) enable the user to scroll throughadditional catalog information (text and/or images) not yet displayed onthe screen. An example of such additional textual information isdepicted on the screen shown in Appendix V.

On the screen of Appendix V, the vendor distributor's catalog number("Cat. No.") 13-246-818F is highlighted. The catalog number of an itemnormally appears in blue in a screen such as Appendix V. This bluelettering is used for catalog numbers, trademarks, footnotes and otherentries for which database 36 contains additional information orcross-references (called hyperlinks). When a search is conducted and thecatalog segments of the resultant hit list are reviewed, the textcorresponding to the search parameter is highlighted in red. Thus, inAppendix V, catalog number 13-246-818F (identified in the search)appears in red, while catalog number 13-246-838F and the trademarkIsotemp each appear in blue. A word, vendor part number or catalognumber located by the search will appear red, even if that word ornumber did not have an associated hyperlink (and thus is not normallyblue).

When in search program 50, particular items selected can be added to anOrder List 48 pending in Shell 52 and search program 50. When theOrdering portion of catalog text is viewed (as in Appendix V),particular items can be selected so as to be added to the Order List 48by double clicking on the highlighted catalog number (even if adifferent field was also highlighted as a result of a search of catalogdatabase 36). The item is then added to an Order List 48 that is createdin Shell 52 via a hypertext link. The items that are sent to the OrderList 48 are collected and shown on the Items Selected screen of Shell52. An example of an Items Selected screen of Shell 52 is shown inAppendix VI. The Items Selected screen depicts certain fields of OrderList 48 that can be viewed and edited within search program 50. Forexample, Shell 52 permits the user via a pop-up window (not shown) toselect units, e.g. pack or case, and quantity to be ordered, e.g. twopacks. Alternatively, the data in these fields can default to one of thesmallest unit and the units can be changed when the order is reviewed inREQI program 44A. Additional fields on the same items are also presentin memory at this stage. Upon clicking on "Order" when the ItemsSelected screen (Appendix VI) is viewed, many or all of these fields onthe items in the Order List are transmitted back to REQI program 44A(via the programs of interface 60 shown in FIG. 2) to be added to thepending Requisition Item Table 46. The sample Items Selected screenshown in Appendix VI includes the Isotemp Oven with catalog number1324818F that was located as a result of the search for all items incatalog database 36 that match the part number 13246818F that wasentered in the STOCK NBR field of REQI program 44A and its associatedRequisition Management data screen 110 of Fisher RIMS system 40.

The following fields are transferred to Order List 48 created in TV/2search program 50: Vendor name, vendor number, vendor part (catalog)number, product description, list price, page number, quantity, unit andcatalog text. However, not all of these fields are viewed on the ItemsSelected screen.

If more than one item on Requisition Management data screen 110 had beenmarked with an "S," the process described above is repeated.

If the user desires to do additional searching in catalog database 36that is not connected to catalog or other items that have been listed onRequisition Management data screen 110 of Fisher RIMS system 40, he orshe can click the box on footer bar of Shell 52 that is labelled"Search." Then, a Search screen comes up on monitor 22 of local computer20. An exemplary Search screen is shown in Appendix VII. In this screen,the usual footer bar is visible in the background, but is not active.

Using the Search screen, a user can search catalog database 36 by page,text description, part number (where the user has the further option tosearch by Fisher part number, for example if Fisher is to be the desiredvendor), Vendor part number, vendor name (for vendors other thanFisher), or bulletin. Stock numbers specific to the customer can also bepresent in catalog database 36 and searched using the screen of AppendixVII. "Bulletin" refers to an additional vendor publication with detailedproduct information that may not be included in a vendor catalog.Searching for information contained in bulletins may be done by bulletinnumber, but only if bulletins have been made a part of catalog database36. For purposes of this disclosure, bulletins when included in acatalog database are considered a type of catalog.

After the user has entered the field to be searched on the SearchScreen, the user clicks on the "SEARCH" box near the bottom of theSearch Screen. A Hit List 47 indicating all items from catalog database36 that match the search field that was entered on the Search Screenthen is generated. Then, in a manner similar to that describedpreviously, the user can scroll through the Hit List 47 and double clickon the catalog page or panel desired. The user may then also view thedetailed information located on the catalog page that was selected fromthe Hit List 47. During the search, the user may also add additionalitems to the Order List 48 being built in Shell 52 if desired, whetherthose additional items had been selected from the Hit List 47 or not.

The Order List that the user has built in Shell 52 is maintained on theItems Selected screen, shown in Appendix VI. From the Items Selectedscreen, the user can cancel the order by clicking on the "Cancel" box atthe bottom of the screen, delete an item from the Order List 48 bymoving the pointer bar to the item to be deleted and then clicking onthe "Delete" box at the bottom of the screen, or delete all items byclicking on the "Delete All" box. The user can also view catalog textand images for a particular item by clicking on the "Description" box.

Once the user has completely built the Order List 48 within Shell 52 andTV/2 search program 50, he or she can transmit it to Fisher RIMS system40. This is accomplished by clicking on the "Order" box at the bottom ofthe Items Selected screen to communicate the completed Order List 48 toFisher RIMS system 40.

The user may have selected no items, one item or several items from thecatalogs contained in catalog database 36 by using TV/2 search program50. If no items have been selected, the original items that were enteredon Requisition Item Table 46 of Requisition Management data screen 110will remain on that screen and will continue to be processed by FisherRIMS system 40. If one or several desired catalog items were selected inTV/2 search program 50, the first item selected will replace theoriginal item on Requisition Item Table 46 of Requisition Managementdata screen 110. Additional items that were selected from the searchthat was performed in TV/2 search program 50 will be added toRequisition Item Table 46 of Requisition Management data screen 110.

Interface programs ESCP 80 and ESRC 70 (FIG. 2) are used to send data toREQI program 44A (FIG. 1A) and its associated Requisition Managementdata screen 110 (FIG. 2) about the items that were selected from thesearch performed by TV/2 search program 50. To the user, it appears thatall the items selected from the search are sent over to Fisher RIMSsystem 40 at the same time. However, ESCP program 80 receives multipleitems from TV/2 search program 50, and then sends one item at a time toESRC program 70. ESRC program 70 then waits until all items have beenpassed to it before sending data about the items to REQI program 44A andits associated Requisition Management screen 110 of Fisher RIMS system40. The information transmitted to Requisition Management screen 110from the Order List built in TV/2 search program 50 and sent throughESCP program 80 and ESRC program 70 includes vendor name, vendor number,vendor part (catalog) number, product description, list price, pagenumber, quantity, unit and catalog text. However, not all of theabove-listed fields may be displayed on screen at all times. ESRCprogram 70 passes control back to Fisher RIMS system 40 via XCTL 78. Therequisition number, customer identification and release number (or otherdata identifying the requisition) will be passed in MENU-Comm-AREA 56 toconfirm that the returned data are associated with the properrequisition. MENU-Comm-AREA 56 is a layout of storage area within localcomputer 20, as one of ordinary skill in the art would readilyunderstand.

As previously indicated, multiple LINKS 82 may have been created betweenprogram ESRC 70 and program ESCP 80 if multiple lines were selected(with the "S" symbol) in Requisition Management data screen 110. Aftercompleting the first search, and any additional searches initiated withthe footer bar, an order list is created and returned to RequisitionItem Data Table 46 associated with Requisition Management data screen110. At this point, the next item is sent from a LINK 82 through programESCP 80 and DDE LINK 90 to the TV/2 program 50, and a hit list resultingfrom the corresponding search is displayed on monitor 22. The process ofsearching, displaying, selecting and ordering is repeated until all ofitems stored by LINKS 82 have been sent to TV/2 program 50 and searched.At the end of each of these searches, an order list may be created andreturned to Requisition Item Data Table 46 or cancelled. Once the lastitem is completed, ESRC program 70 passes control via XCTL 78, and aRequisition Management screen 110 is displayed, reflecting all of theadditions and changes that have been made to the Requisition Item DataTable 46 associated with that requisition.

A limit is normally placed on the number of items of an order that maybe returned to the Requisition Item Data Table 46. For example, if themaximum size in Requisition Item Data Table 46 is set at 200 lines, onecould create a limit on the size of each order list at 20, 50, 100 oreven 200. A corresponding limit can be placed on the number of LINKS 82that can be established concurrently from the same requisition. Settinga limit of five LINKS 82 and forty items per order list would be one wayof avoiding situations in which a Requisition Item Data Table 46 reachesits limit (e.g., 200 lines) before all of the searches (five) have beencompleted and order lists (five of forty items each) have been returned.

At this point in the use of Fisher RIMS system 40, as many entries(lines) of Requisition Management data screen 110 have been built up(some through use of electronic sourcing system 5) as are necessary tocomplete the requisition. A sample of such a Requisition Management datascreen 110, in which four lines have been entered identifying desireditems to be requisitioned (including catalog items located as a resultof a catalogs search), is shown in Appendix VIII. The next step is thatof inventory sourcing using RIMS inventory sourcing program or programs44B in Fisher RIMS system 40, as shown in FIG. 3. Inventory sourcing isthe process of determining what inventory will be used to fill therequisition. Pricing is also performed in this step when it is calledfor. Inventory sourcing in Fisher RIMS system 40 is performed on bothlocal computer 20 and host computer 10.

Within Fisher RIMS system 40, a Requisition Item Table 46, as shown inAppendix VIII (similar to that shown in Appendix II, but including moreitems), can be inventory sourced by pressing the key F6 from REQIprogram 44A represented by Requisition Management data screen 110 shownin Appendix VIII (and in Appendix II). Since inventory records on JITitems (type 01 and 06) are maintained in inventory database 42B, lines002 and 004 in Appendix VIII show the availability of these items ininventory (49 items available for line 002, and 0 items available forline 004). After the F6 key has been pressed, host computer 10 searchesits host pricing and inventory databases for availability of the variousitems listed on Requisition Management data screen 110 in differentinventory locations (e.g., different warehouses) as described in furtherdetail, below.

After such inventory sourcing, and assuming that no errors occurredduring sourcing (as indicated by decision step 116 in FIG. 3), thecontract price, source (inventory) location and available quantity orother fields are communicated back to computer 20 by host computer 10,and entered and displayed in the Requisition Management Screen. This canbest be seen by comparing lines 001 and 003 of Appendix VIII to AppendixIX, especially as to "QTY AVAIL" (quantity available), "LOC" (inventorylocation) and price. As Appendix IX indicates, an inventory-sourcedRequisition Item Table 46 typically contains the same items, but withmore completed fields (including price, product type and inventorylocation). Moreover, as discussed above, an entry in aninventory-sourced Requisition Management screen may indicate for arequisitioned item a vendor and vendor catalog number that has beenchanged, from what was obtained from a catalog search, to acorresponding vendor and vendor catalog number for that item fromanother source (e.g., Fisher--which has its own catalog number for thatmanufacturer's item that Fisher distributes).

For example, as shown in Appendix IX, product type "01" for the item online 002 indicates that the requested requisition item is available asDistributor-owned inventory in the JIT inventory that thevendor/distributor maintains near local computer 20, either for theparticular Customer or for a group of customers. Product type "06" forthe item on line 004 indicates that this item is available for therequisitioner employed by the Customer from inventory owned byCustomer's purchasing department but managed by local computer 20.Product type "03" for the items on lines 001 and 003 indicates thatthese are regular Distributor items that the communication betweenDistributor's host computer 10 and local computer 20 determined wereavailable in sufficient quantity at one or another of Distributor'sgeneral warehouses designated "DEL" and "EDC" in the location ("LOC")field. Product type "05" (not shown in Appendix IX) indicates that arequisitioned item is to be purchased by Customer directly from anoutside supplier, using an Administrative Purchase Order that localcomputer 20 creates and prints (or transmits) for Customer.

The inventory sourcing process described above also determines the netprices shown in Appendix IX for each item. Type 01 and type 03 items arepriced by Distributor's host computer 10 searching host databases 11,which contain various formulae and tables of Distributor's pricingagreement with the Customer. Host computer 10 also prices any type 04 ortype 07 item, if present. These prices were transmitted to localcomputer 20 along with the location and availability information for thetype 01 items. Prices for type 05 and 06 items are maintained in thelocal computer's 20 own databases 42B and 42C.

From Requisition Maintenance data screen 120, the CSR can accept alllines of the requisition--if all lines show the status "S" for sourcedin the "STAT" field of Requisition Maintenance data screen 120--bypressing the F6 function key. If item errors are found at step 116 inthe data transmitted back to local computer 20 from host computer 10during the sourcing process, then those particular items for which errorwas found will be returned and displayed by local computer 20 inRequisition Management data screen 110.

Once a requisition has been inventory sourced and accepted by the CSR,it can be converted to one or more purchase orders, as represented bystep 114 in FIG. 3. For example, the requisition represented by theRequisition Item Table 46 of Appendix IX, if accepted without furtherrevision by pressing function key F6 ("ACCEPT"), would result in thegeneration of the following three purchase orders:

A. Line 002 would be ordered from on-site distributor-owned inventory;

B. Line 004 would be ordered from on-site customer-owned inventory (atransfer internal to the customer); and

C. Lines 001 and 003 would be ordered, respectively, from Distributor's"DEL and "EDC" warehouses.

Of these three purchase orders, Orders A (type "01") and C (type "03")are shared between host computer 10 and local computer 20 (as shown inFIG. 3). Upon execution of Order A, the inventory records on bothcomputers for Distributor-owned JIT inventory are adjustedsynchronously. A purchase order is generated by host computer 10immediately thereafter. Order B (type "06") is executed and stored onlyon local computer 20. Upon execution of Order B, the inventory record onlocal computer 20 is adjusted (the host computer contains no records onCustomer-owned JIT inventory or on items ordered by AdministrativePurchases). For Administrative Purchases (type 05 items), a purchaseorder is printed, and mailed or faxed, locally by computer 20 asindicated at step 118 in FIG. 3, or via host computer 10 via EDI (if EDIwas selected in the Header of Appendix I and an EDI transfer arrangementexisted with vendor).

It is an important feature of the present invention that a requisitionmay be filled by searching and selecting from a catalog database ofitems, inventory sourced, and the resulting requisition then dividedinto one or more purchase orders. This contrasts with known prior artCD-ROM catalog systems in which only a single purchase order to a singlesupplier is built without reference to inventory records, and in whichthe information used to create the purchase order is limited to thatcontained in the product catalog of a single vendor.

Electronic sourcing system 5 also contains the capability to logmessages returned from inventory sourcing program or programs 44B ofFisher RIMS system 40. Messages will be logged for any of the followingreasons: (1) part number changes for line sent to ESCP program 80; (2)list price from inventory sourcing program 44B differs from list pricereturned from ESCP program 80; (3) vendor name from inventory sourcingprogram 44B differs from vendor name returned from ESCP program 80; (4)on a "master or blanket" order, in which local computer 20 tracks theamount of purchases against a blanket or cumulative sum available and/orin which there is limited access to products or limited access tocertain users, the part has already been entered on another line; and(5) the maximum number of line items has been reached.

Referring again to FIG. 2, a user is able to view the messages returnedby pressing the ALT F11 function keys in REQI program 44A and itsassociated Requisition Management screen 110 in Fisher RIMS system 40.After the ALT F11 keys have been pressed, REQI program 44A will link toESMV program 112 via XCTL link 111 for displaying the message logcreated. ESMV program 112 is a function of Fisher RIMS system 40. ESMVprogram 112 allows the user to page through the messages created andthen to return to Requisition Management screen 110. A sample ESMVmessage screen 81 associated with ESMV program 112 is shown in AppendixX.

The first two messages of the message screen of Appendix X indicate thata part number for line 001, identified as part number 53610, wassuccessfully added in substitution for a prior part originally enteredas part number S100-06 (from the Fisher Scientific catalog). Thesemessages were generated because the originally entered part (S100-06)did not exist in the Fisher catalog, but its corresponding part numberS100-06 (that was located by another search in another catalog) didexist in that other catalog. The next message indicates that the vendorfor part number 53610 was changed in line 001 from "VN00000001"--meaningthat the originally requested vendor (Fisher) was changed. The next twomessages indicate that two other part numbers (53620 and 53650) weresuccessfully added as lines 002 and 003.

In the previous description, an exemplary embodiment has been describedin which a Distributor CSR operates Fisher RIMS requisition/purchasingsystem 40 and IBM TV/2 search program 50 as part of a Just-In-Timeactivity for a particular customer, Customer. Electronic sourcing system5 of the present invention may also be used, however, in otherrequisition and purchasing environments.

In some embodiments, a Customer end user or a Customer purchasingemployee operating REQI program 44A of Fisher RIMS system 40 may alsooperate TV/2 search program 50. Operating either from a terminalconnected to local computer 20, or from a separate local computernetworked with the CSR's local computer 20, such a Customer end user canselect requisitioned items for inclusion in Requisition Item Table 46 bykeystrokes viewing that screen and by searches in TV/2 search program 50which are transmitted to the Requisition Item Table 46 via interface 60,as described above. Depending upon his or her authorization level andaccess code to Fisher RIMS system 40, the Customer purchasing employeemay be able to source the final requisition and/or accept the sourcedrequisition, as shown in Appendix IX. If, however, the sourcedrequisition was split into more purchase orders than the Customerpurchasing employee might prefer, the intervention of the DistributorCSR could be invoked to revise and re-source the requisition (causing,for example, certain items originally sourced as type 01 products to besourced for this order as corresponding type 03 products from a commonDistributor warehouse with other type 03 products on the requisition).The Customer end user may have authority only to build the RequisitionItem Table, but then calls the Distributor CSR or Customer purchasingemployee to source and accept the requisition.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the present invention also has application toDistributor's regional customer service locations where a large numberof CSRs may be placing orders directly on Distributor's host computer210 for thousands of different customers who call in. In thatenvironment, search program 250, which preferably comprises TV/2 searchprogram 250, and catalog databases 236 are stored on file server 200. Inthis environment, file server 200 is a large personal computer, a workstation or a mini-computer such as an IBM AS/400. Alternatively, theserver 200 and a minicomputer (such as an IBM AS/400) can beindependently connected to each local computer 200. Each CSR has a localpersonal computer 220 having a monitor 222, a keyboard 224 and a printer226. Local computer 220 is provided with programs includingrequisition/purchasing program 240, Shell program 252 and a graphic userinterface 254 (preferably EASEL Workbench program 254 for OS/2) forlisting items. One or more of these may be copied from server 220 whenneeded. Work-in-progress requisitions 260 are established for eachcustomer and are attached to graphic user interface 254. Server 200maintains complete requisitions 242, in a manner similar to the mannerin which local computer 20 maintains requisition databases 42 in theembodiment shown in FIG. 1A.

Normally, in such an environment, the CSR creates Order lists forcustomers by entering Distributor catalog numbers into graphic userinterface 254 and connecting to the Distributor mainframe 210 for priceand availability. For this purpose, each local computer is connected tohost computer 210 via a phone/dataline and either a gateway or aminicomputer acting as a local host. When a customer asks for productsby manufacturer part number or a competitor's catalog number, the CSRhas access to cross-reference files, as earlier described, eithermaintained on the local host or maintained on the Distributor hostcomputer 210.

Appropriate Distributor catalogs and manufacturer catalogs then areconsulted, using TV-2 search program 250 and proper selection ofDistributor catalogs and of catalogs and bulletins from manufacturerswhose products Distributor regularly sells. Catalogs and bulletins arecontained in catalog database 236. The resultant lists of products arethen transferred by Shell program 252 to a work-in-progress requisition260, and then entered from graphical user interface 254 directly ontoDistributor's mainframe computer 210 as orders from the applicablecustomer to Distributor. The CSR, knowing which items are available fromwhich Distributor warehouse and direct-shipping supplier, then maydivide the customer's requested items into multiple orders, so as toassure that each order is completely filled by a single shipment. Inthis regional environment, file server 200 or the minicomputer acting aslocal host can maintain files of completed requisitions 242 which can besubsequently used for generating reports for customers in the region.Reports can be generated either from such local data or from dataperiodically downloaded to the local host from Distributor's hostcomputer 210.

Another environment where the present invention can be used is inDistributor's purchasing department. The item lists created in thatenvironment can include lists of items Distributor does not regularlystock or purchase, but for which particular customers indicate arequirement to buy. The file server 200 in that environment containsTV-2 search program 250, EASEL graphical user interface 254 and multiplecatalog databases 236 containing catalogs similar to the Fairmont andNIST catalogs described above for the embodiment of FIG. 1A. TheDistributor purchasing employee can receive by phone or viaDistributor's host computer 210 requests for items not shown onDistributor's host databases either as regular products (type 03) orthird party items purchased for particular customers on a regular basis(type 07 items). Transmitting certain such requirements to theapplicable Distributor purchasing employee can be a function of theinventory sourcing routines of host computer, or may be directed by theDistributor CSR interfacing with the customer.

The Distributor purchasing employee can search appropriate catalogsusing TV-2 search program 250, and can transfer the "Items Selected" toa product list in EASEL interface 254. The resultant list might display,for example, supplier part number, supplier, list price, product andcatalog page, with access to other fields such as complete description(up to 500 characters). The Distributor purchasing employee can theneither forward the information to the CSR, customer end user or customerpurchasing employee who requested the item (to confirm that therequirement is being met) or contact the supplier to confirm pricing andavailability. Once responses from either or both have been obtained, theDistributor purchasing employee can use the item list in EASEL interface254 to create one or more of the following purchase orders:

1. an order from the customer to the supplier (an AdministrativePurchase);

2. an order from the customer to Distributor (for a type 07 product);and

3. an order from the Distributor to the supplier (usually providing fordirect shipment from the supplier to the customer or to a JIT sitemaintained by Distributor for the customer).

From the foregoing description, it should be apparent that the networkarrangements of FIG. 1B can be used to apply the present invention in avariety of contexts. The context will dictate which catalog databases236 are provided on file server 200: in the regional CSR environment,Distributor's catalogs can be present with a variety of catalogs andbulletins from manufacturers that Distributor regularly represents and alimited selection of outside suppliers; and in the Distributorpurchasing environment, the number of outside supplier catalogs will beincreased. The number of client (local) computers 220 and the number andsize of catalog databases 236 will help dictate what size file server200 is required. The operating environment (regional CSR site, on-siteCSR, on-site CSR networked with Customer end users and with purchaserpersonnel or Distributor purchasing site) will also affect the catalogdatabases 236 included, file server 200 size and requisition/purchasingprogram 240 used. In some situations (e.g., purchasing) each clientcomputer has an independent copy of requisition/purchasing program 240;in others (e.g., on-site CSR) a single copy of therequisition/purchasing program 240 is maintained with associated localdatabases on the server 200. Where the requisition/purchasing program240 and local databases are maintained on file server 200, the localdatabase is updated after each use for the benefit of subsequent users.For example, in an environment using Fisher RIMS forrequisition/purchasing program 240, if a NIST standard is selected usingTV-2 search program 250 and ordered using Fisher RIMS 240 (as either atype 07 purchase from Distributer or a type 05 administrative purchasefrom NIST), that item is available in the applicable database forsubsequent requisitions. For example, a NIST standard ordered as a type05 item will be stored in the local database on file server 200, withNIST as the vendor for subsequent administrative purchases by Customer.A NIST standard ordered from Distributor as a type 07 item will bestored in Distributor's host databases as a type 07 available toDistributor from NIST. The local databases on file server 200 will alsocontain records of all items requisitioned and ordered, useful totransfer files to a Customer's computer (e.g., of purchase orders placedby that Customer in a day) or to generate reports for a Customer (e.g.,or requisitions placed by each Customer department and/or budget numberin a week).

Thus it is seen that an electronic sourcing system including means forlinking a requisition/purchasing system and a means for searching largevolumes of information has been described. Persons skilled in the artwill appreciate that the present invention can be practiced by otherthan the described embodiments, which are presented for the purposes ofillustration and not of limitation, and the present invention is limitedonly by the claims which follow.

                                      APPENDIX I                                  __________________________________________________________________________    FISHER SCIENTIFIC RIMS                                                        REQUISITION HEADER                                                            __________________________________________________________________________    DATE: 08/05/94                                                                TIME: 07:04:57                                                                ACCT-NBR                                                                            :                   NAME:                                                                         ADDRESS:                                            COMPANY                                                                             :                   :                                                   REQ NBR                                                                             :                   :                                                   RELEASE                                                                             :                 ORDER TYPE :                                                                             R ORDER                                                            HOLD/REL:  I       RUSH CODE:                                                                             9                         CALLER                                                                              :                 FREIGHT OVERRIDE:                                                                        N       TAX OVERRIDE:                                              EDI PO TO HOST:                                                                          N POA 855                                  ATTN  :                 PRT ACK:   Y       NBR OF COPIES:                                                                         1                                                 ACK DELV CODE:                                                                           P PRINT & DELIVER                          BILL TO                                                                             :                 REQ DELV CODE:                                                                           W WALK IN                                                          SERVICE CHARGE:                                                                            0.00                                     VENDOR                                                                              :                                                                                               CREATED:   08-04-1994                                                                            STATUS:  R                         RESPONSE:                                                                             KEY(S):                                                               +F2:ADD F3:EXIT F4:UPDATE F5:REFRESH F6:ITEM F9:VAR F10:SRCE F11:CHGPO        F12 DEL                                                                       1BV123                                                                        __________________________________________________________________________

                                      APPENDIX II                                 __________________________________________________________________________    ** REQUISITION MANAGEMENT SCREEN ***                                          __________________________________________________________________________    ACCT NBR:                                                                           218848 002 REQ NBR: TEST NEW ONE                                        COMP:  1   REL NBR:                                                           S LINE                                                                               STOCK NBR                                                                              QTY UM                                                                              PT                                                                              STKRM XREF SPI UNIT PRICE EXT PRICE                   001   13246818F 0   CS 03           0.00  0.00                                DESC:               QTY AVAIL: 0  LOC: FSHR WHSE: BLW                         002                                                                           DESC:               QTY AVAIL:    LOC:   WHSE:                                003                                                                           DESC:               QTY AVAIL:    LOC:   WHSE:                                004                                                                           DESC:               QTY AVAIL:    LOC:   WHSE:                                005                                                                           DESC:               QTY AVAIL:    LOC:   WHSE:                                RESPONSE:    KEY(S):                                                          ALL ITEMS DISPLAYED                                                           F3:EXIT F6:SOURCE F7:BKWD F8:FWD F9:NEW F10:NONCAT F11: CATALOG               __________________________________________________________________________    F12:CNCL                                                                  

                                      APPENDIX III                                __________________________________________________________________________    ovens                                                                         General                                                                       (1106)Fisher Isotemp 800 Series Programmable Ovens                            (1107)Isotemp 700 Series Deluxe Lab Ovens                                     (1108)Isotemp 600 Standard Lab Ovens                                          (1109)Fisher Isotemp 500 Series Economy Lab Ovens                             (1110)Gravity Convection Ovens                                                (1111)Utility Ovens                                                           (1112)Mechanical Convection Ovens with Electronic Temperature                 (1113)General-Purpose Ovens                                                   (1114)Heavy Duty Deluxe Ovens                                                 (1116)Large Capacity Model 2882A                                              (1117)Standard Capacity Model 281A                                            (1118)Fisher Models 280 and 285 Vacuum Ovens                                  (1119)NAPCO Vacuum Ovens                                                      Help Catalogs Search Order List Minimize Clear Prev Next   Exit               __________________________________________________________________________

                                      APPENDIX IV                                 __________________________________________________________________________    (FSC1106)Fisher Isotemp 800 Series Programmable Ovens                         __________________________________________________________________________    Fisher Isotempx 800 Series Programmable Ovens                                 Three linear heat-up and cool-down stages                                     Talking control panel                                                         Keypad and lighted graphics                                                   300 to 325° C. range                                                   RS-422 serial communications capability                                       The latest technology at your fingertips. Accurate, easy-to-use               controls allow you to program up to 3 heat-up stages and 3 cool-              down stages linearly to provide the most appropriate conditions               for your samples. Using the large keyboard, you can choose the                heat-up or cool-down rate, the temperature you want for each                  stage, and the length of time you want the oven to hold each                  temperature. And, for projects requiring repeatability, you can               duplicate the settings at any time.                                           Help Catalogs Search Order List Minimize Clear Prev Next  Exit                __________________________________________________________________________

                                      APPENDIX V                                  __________________________________________________________________________    (FSC1106)Fisher Isotemp 800 Series Programmable Ovens                         Model       818F         838F                                                 __________________________________________________________________________    Inside D × W × H                                                              16 × 12 × 16 (41 × 30 ×                                            18 × 18 × 20 (46 × 46 ×                  41 cm)       51 cm)                                               Shp. wt.    156 lb. (71 kg)                                                                            195 lb. (88 kg)                                      Electrical Requirements                                                                   230 V 50/60 Hz 11.3 Amps                                                                   230 V 50/60 Hz 19 Amps                               Cat. No.    13-246-818F  13-246-838F                                          Each        3495.00      3995.00                                              Extra Shelves for 800 Series Ovens                                            No-tip design. Move to any position in seconds. Full Depth Shelves:           Chrome-                                                                       Plated Steel                                                                  Help Catalogs Search Order List Minimize Clear Prev Next  Exit                __________________________________________________________________________

                  APPENDIX VI                                                     ______________________________________                                        ITEMS SELECTED                                                                Part                            List                                          Number     Description          Price                                         ______________________________________                                        13246818F  ISOTEMP OVEN MDL818F 230 V                                                                         3495.00                                       Help  Cancel Delete  Delete All  Order  Description                           ______________________________________                                    

                  APPENDIX VII                                                    ______________________________________                                        SEARCH                                                                                 Page:                                                                         Search For:                                                                   Part Number:                                                                           ◯Fisher                                                                    ◯Vendor                                                                    ◯Cust-                                                            omer                                               Vendor Name:                                                                  Bulletin:                                                            HELP SEARCH  CANCEL CLEAR  USER                                               DATA EXTENDED                                                                 Help Catalogs Search Order List Minimize Clear Prev                           Next  Exit                                                                    ______________________________________                                    

                                      APPENDIX VIII                               __________________________________________________________________________    RICREQI1                                                                              FISHER SCIENTIFIC RIMS                                                                           DATE: 07-29-94                                             REQUISITION MANAGEMENT SCREEN                                                                    TIME: 14:54:22                                     ACCT NBR:                                                                           363690 006 REQ NBR: PO NBR 001                                          COMP:  1   REL NBR:                                                           0 LINE                                                                               STOCK NBR                                                                              QTY                                                                              UM PT                                                                              STKRM XREF SPI UNIT PRICE EXT PRICE                   001   A181      1  EA 03           0.00  0.00                                 DESC:               QTY AVAIL: 0  LOC: FSHR WHSE: EDC                         002   02540K    1  PK 01           0.00  0.00                                 DESC:               QTY AVAIL: 49 LOC: WHSE: JIT                              003   13246818F 1  EA 03           0.00  0.00                                 DESC:               QTY AVAIL: 0  LOC: FSHR WHSE: EDC                         004   A181-06   1  EA 06           100.00                                                                              100.00                               DESC: ACETONE       QTY AVAIL: 0  LOC: WHSE: JIT                              JIT BACKORDER WILL OCCUR                                                      005                                                                           DESC:               QTY AVAIL: 0  LOC: WHSE:                                  RESPONSE:   KEY(S):                                                           I ITEM(S) PROCESSED                                                           +F3:EXIT F6:SOURCE F7:BKWD F8:FWD F9:NEW ITM F10:NONCAT F11: CATALOG          F12:CNCL                                                                      1B V123                                                                       __________________________________________________________________________

                                      APPENDIX IX                                 __________________________________________________________________________    RICPOMP1                                                                             FISHER SCIENTIFIC RIMS                                                                           DATE: 08-03-94                                             REQUISITION MANAGEMENT SCREEN                                                                    TIME: 07:44:13                                       COMP ID:                                                                            001    REQ-NBR : PO NBR 001                                            ACCT NBR:                                                                            363690 006                                                                           REL-NBR :                                                       ORDER NBR:             PICKLIST REVIEWED :                                    SERVICE:                                                                             0.00 ORDER:  0.00 FREIGHT:                                             CARRIER:                                                                      O LINE PART    QTY UOM PRD UNIT PRICE SERVICE EXT PRICE LOC STAT              001 A181       1    EA 03  35.30                                                                              0.00                                                                              35.30 DEL                                                                            S                                  ACETONE CERTIFIED ACS                                                                             1L QTY AVAIL:                                                                             1   QTY REC:                                                                             O                                  002 02540K     1    PK 01  32.70                                                                              0.00                                                                              32.70 JIT                                                                            S                                  BEAKER GRIFFIN 250 ML                                                                             12/9                                                                             QTY AVAIL:                                                                             49  QTY REC:                                                                             O                                  003 13246818F  1    EA 03  3495.00                                                                            0.00                                                                              3495.00 EDC                                                                          S                                  PROGRAMMABLE OVEN      QTY AVAIL:                                                                             0   QTY REC:                                                                             O                                  004 A181-06    1    EA 06  100.00                                                                             0.00                                                                              100.00 JIT                                                                           S                                  ACETONE                QTY AVAIL:                                                                             0   QTY REC:                                                                             O                                  RESPONSE:   KEY(S):                                                           + F3:EXIT F6:ACCEPT F7:BKWD F8:FWD F9:PRINT ACK F11:M/B ERRORS F12            DELETE                                                                        1B V123                                                                       __________________________________________________________________________

                  APPENDIX X                                                      ______________________________________                                        *** REQUISITION MANAGEMENT SCREEN ***                                         ______________________________________                                        ACCT NBR: 218848 002 REQ NBR: TEST NEW ONE                                    COMP: 001  REL NBR:                                                           ELECTRONIC SOURCING MESSAGES                                                  LINE NUMBER 001  PART NUMBER 53610                                             PART ADDED SUCCESSFULLY                                                      LINE NUMBER 001  PART NUMBER 53610                                             REPLACEMENT WAS MADE FOR PRIOR PART: S100-06                                 LINE NUMBER 001  PART NUMBER 53610                                             VENDOR CHANGED FROM: VN000000001                                             LINE NUMBER 002  PART NUMBER 53620                                             PART ADDED SUCCESSFULLY                                                      LINE NUMBER 003  PART NUMBER 53650                                             PART ADDED SUCCESSFULLY                                                      F6:RETURN F7:BACKWARD F8:FORWARD                                              ______________________________________                                    

We claim:
 1. An electronic sourcing system comprising:at least twoproduct catalogs containing data relating to items associated with therespective sources; means for selecting the product catalogs to search;means for searching for matching items among the selected productcatalogs; means for building a requisition using data relating toselected matching items and their associated source(s); means forprocessing the requisition to generate one or more purchase orders forthe selected matching items; and means for determining whether aselected matching item is available in inventory.
 2. The electronicsourcing system of claim 1 wherein the purchase orders include datarelating to a catalog number for the selected matching items.
 3. Anelectronic sourcing system comprising:at least two product catalogscontaining data relating to items associated with the respectivesources; means for selecting the product catalogs to search; means forsearching for matching items among the selected product catalogs; meansfor building a requisition using data relating to selected matchingitems and their associated source(s); means for processing therequisition to generate one or more purchase orders for the selectedmatching items; and means for converting data relating to a selectedmatching item and an associated source to data relating to an item and adifferent source.
 4. The electronic sourcing system of claim 3 furthercomprising means for determining whether a selected matching item isavailable in inventory.
 5. The electronic sourcing system of claim 3further comprising means for determining the applicable price of aselected matching item.
 6. An electronic sourcing system comprising:adatabase containing data relating to items associated with at least twosources; means for searching for matching items in the database; meansfor building a requisition using data relating to selected matchingitems and their associated source(s); means for processing therequisition to generate one or more purchase orders for the selectedmatching items; and means for converting data relating to a selectedmatching item and an associated source to data relating to an item and adifferent source.
 7. An electronic sourcing system of claim 6 whereinthe requisition includes matching items from at least two sources. 8.The electronic sourcing system of claim 6 wherein the purchase ordersinclude data relating to catalog numbers.
 9. The electronic sourcingsystem of claim 6 further comprising means for determining whether aselected matching item is available in inventory.
 10. The electronicsourcing system of claim 6 further comprising means for determining theapplicable price of a selected matching item.
 11. An electronic sourcingsystem comprising:at least two product catalogs containing data relatingto items associated with the respective sources; means for searching formatching items among the product catalogs; means for building arequisition that includes a first matching item and a second matchingitem, each associated with a different source; means for processing therequisition to generate purchase orders for the first and the secondmatching items; and means for converting data relating to a selectedmatching item and an associated source to data relating to an item and adifferent source.
 12. The electronic sourcing system of claim 11 whereina first purchase order includes data relating to the first matchingitem.
 13. The electronic sourcing system of claim 12 wherein a secondpurchase order includes data relating to the second matching catalogitem.
 14. An electronic sourcing system comprising:data relating toitems associated with at least two sources maintained so that selecteddata may be searched separately; means for searching for matching itemsamong the selected data; means for building a requisition using datarelating to selected matching items and their associated source(s);means for processing the requisition to generate purchase orders usingdata relating to the selected matching items and their associatedsource(s); and means for coverting data relating to a selected matchingitem and an associated source to data relating to an item and adifferent source.
 15. The electronic sourcing system of claim 14 whereinthe purchase orders use data relating to at least two sources.
 16. Theelectronic sourcing system of claim 14 wherein the purchase orders usedata relating to catalog numbers.
 17. The electronic sourcing system ofclaim 14 further comprising means for determining whether a selectedmatching item is available in inventory.
 18. The electronic sourcingsystem of claim 14 further comprising means for determining theapplicable price of a selected matching item.
 19. An electronic sourcingsystem comprising:a database containing data relating to itemsassociated with at least two vendors maintained so that selectedportions of the database may be searched separately; means for searchingfor matching items in the selected portions of the database; means forbuilding a requisition that includes data relating to selected matchingitems; means for processing the requisition to generate purchase ordersfor selected matching items.
 20. The electronic sourcing system of claim19 wherein the purchase orders include data relating to vendor catalognumbers.
 21. The electronic sourcing system of claim 19 furthercomprising means for converting data relating to a selected matchingitem and an associated source to data relating to an item and adifferent source.
 22. The electronic sourcing system of claim 19 furthercomprising means for determining whether a selected matching item isavailable in inventory.
 23. The electronic sourcing system of claim 19further comprising means for determining the applicable price of aselected matching item.
 24. An electronic sourcing system of claim 19wherein the requisition includes matching items from at least twosources.
 25. The electronic sourcing system of claim 24 wherein thepurchase orders include data relating to the source associated with theselected matching item.
 26. A method comprising the steps of:maintainingat least two product catalogs on a database containing data relating toitems associated with the respective sources; selecting the productcatalogs to search; searching for matching items among the selectedproduct catalogs; building a requisition using data relating to selectedmatching items and their associated source(s); processing therequisition to generate one or more purchase orders for the selectedmatching items; and determining whether a selected matching item isavailable in inventory.
 27. The method of claim 26 wherein the purchaseorders include data relating to a vendor catalog number for the selectedmatching items.
 28. A method comprising the steps of:maintaining atleast two product catalogs on a database containing data relating toitems associated with the respective sources; selecting the productcatalogs to search; searching for matching items among the selectedproduct catalogs; building a requisition using data relating to selectedmatching items and their associated source(s); processing therequisition to generate one or more purchase orders for the selectedmatching items; and converting data relating to a selected matching itemand an associated source to data relating to an item and a differentsource.
 29. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step ofdetermining whether a selected matching item is available in inventory.30. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of determiningthe applicable price of a selected matching item.
 31. A methodcomprising the steps of:maintaining a database containing data relatingto items associated with at least two sources; searching for matchingitems among the data relating to the items; building a requisition usingdata relating to selected matching items and their associated sources;processing the requisition to generate purchase orders using datarelating to the selected matching items and their associated source(s);and converting data relating to a selected matching item and anassociated source to data relating to an item and a different source.32. The method of claim 31 wherein the purchase orders use data relatingto at least two sources.
 33. The method of claim 31 wherein the purchaseorders use data relating to catalog numbers.
 34. The method of claim 31further comprising the step of determining whether a selected matchingitem is available in inventory.
 35. The method of claim 31 furthercomprising the step of determining the applicable price of a selectedmatching item.
 36. A method comprising the steps of:maintaining adatabase containing at least two product catalogs containing datarelating to items associated with the respective sources; searching formatching items among the product catalogs; building a requisition thatincludes a first matching item and a second matching item, each from adifferent product catalog; processing the requisition to generatepurchase orders for the first and the second matching items; andconverting data relating to a selected matching item and an associatedsource to data relating to an item and a different source.
 37. Themethod of claim 36 wherein a first purchase order uses data relating tothe first matching item and a second purchase order uses data relatingto the second matching catalog item.
 38. The method of claim 36 furthercomprising the step of determining whether a selected matching item isavailable in inventory.
 39. The method of claim 36 further comprisingthe step of determining the applicable price of a selected matchingitem.
 40. A method comprising the steps of:maintaining a databasecontaining data relating to items associated with at least two sourceswhereby selected portions of the database may be searched separately;searching for matching items among the selected portions of thedatabase; building a requisition using data relating to selectedmatching items and their associated source(s); processing therequisition to generate purchase orders using data relating to theselected matching items and their associated source(s); and determiningwhether a selected matching item is available in inventory.
 41. A methodcomprising the steps of:maintaining a database containing data relatingto items associated with at least two sources whereby selected portionsof the database may be searched separately; searching for matching itemsamong the selected portions of the database; building a requisitionusing data relating to selected matching items and their associatedsource(s); processing the requisition to generate purchase orders usingdata relating to the selected matching items and their associatedsource(s); and converting data relating to a selected matching item andan associated source to data relating to an item and a different source.42. The method of claim 41 wherein a first purchase order uses datarelating to selected matching items from a first source and a secondpurchase order uses data relating to selected matching items from asecond source.
 43. The method of claim 41 further comprising the step ofdetermining whether a selected matching item is available in inventory.44. The method of claim 41 further comprising the step of determiningthe applicable price of a selected matching item.
 45. A methodcomprising the steps of:maintaining a database containing data relatingto items associated with at least two vendors whereby selected portionsof the database may be searched separately; searching for matching itemsin the selected portions of the database; building a requisition thatincludes selected matching items; processing the requisition to generatepurchase orders for selected matching items.